3 Borough Sunday...

woke up, fell outta bed, dragged a comb across my head.  found my way downstairs and drank a shake...and looking up i noticed i was late.  "shit, I'm supposed to be in Brooklyn in 30 minutes and the F train isn't running".

• What else is new with me. I am always late.
  
• So I spent 30 freaking dollars (after tip) to take a cab to prospect park at 8:10am this morning so I wouldn't be late for my 4 mile run
• Brooklyn is as foreign to me as say Romania, but I made it there safe, sound and on-time
• No one told me that the first mile was uphill (somewhat reminiscent of my 10k in Central Park last summer)
• The race was a bit difficult but I was powering through at my usual snails pace. Still getting lapped by 10 year olds and 70 year olds...oh and a really snazzy power walker. Man in the green shirt- way to go!
• No one told me the last half mile of the race was uphill. Oh boy was I beyond pissed. I had to walk for a minute or so bc I was a bit winded....most likely from muttering curse words and whomever designed the course to end uphill. stupid.
• I finished. My team in training mentor Yasi was there to give me a pat on the back. 
• Had brunch with TNT folks at a local burger joint. Met some new friends. Helps to stay motivated when you hear other people's stories.
• Hopped on the G train (first time ever) to go see baby James. His smile just melts me. I heart him so much.
• Left QNS and am back in my apartments. BTW, 6 flights of stairs is not fun after 4 miles. Should be interesting as my mileage increases.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed so far. It means more to me than you can imagine and it keeps my motivated because I don't want to let anyone down.

xoxo

j

2.5 Mile Group Night Run in Central Park

So Team in Training has group runs /drills every Wednesday and Saturday...it's actually kind of motivating.

So after 20 minutes of Italian class last night, I politely excused myself (much to the dismay of my instructor) and met up with 100 or so other people to run on E. 90th st.

• It was cold...whomever told me you warm up after a few minutes lied. I was cold the entire time.
• I was at the back of the pack (as usual). I actually seem to keep pace with the run/walkers. Sad I know, but Irefuse to walk. I guess it's more motivation to run faster
• We focused on high arm swing (for more power) and low arm swing (for endurance). I snuck in a bunch of nose-wipe swings :)
• We stretched and I was back sitting on my couch eating turkey chili by 8:3o or so.

I am not going to lie, cold and all...it felt pretty good...and it's for a great cause.

Jen vs Treadmill

I'll make this short and sweet...it's cold and super rainy in NYC so last night I decided to run inside on the treadmill. Did I mention I hate running in the cold, let alone the rain?

• My goal: 3 miles
• As I was changing in the locker room, I noticed an odd smell (NYSC on 8th ave is a little sketch)
• As I wiped down the treadmill before I touched any buttons (self proclaimed germaphobe), I noticed an odd smell
• As I stared to warm up, I noticed an odd smell. hrm...
• Upon further subtle exploration, I realized the odd smell was me
• Backstory: I made delicious turkey chili on Sunday night, but don't have great ventilation in my apartment...so the smell lingers. My bedroom is right off of my kitchen. I *may* have grabbed my dirty work-out clothes from Saturday and thrown them in my gym bag for last night's run.
• Dirty gym clothes + turkey chili + natural organic deodorant = an very ODD smelling Jen (sorry to those running next to me)
• So I ran 2 miles. I thought I was CRUSING but the treadmill told me I was running a 13 min 20 sec mile. It lied. I was cruising at my usual 12 min 15 second pace.
• My goal *was* 3 miles. But after the 2 mile mark, my stomach did a flip, my colon gurgled down deep and my head started to twinge. I wasn't sure if I was going to vomit, poop or pass out, so I stopped
• My face was bright red (little known Jen fact: when working out, I often get a Harry Potter-esque red bolt down my forehead...I will post a pic next time) and I felt as though I was radiating enough heat to supply a small village

Damn you treadmill. Bright red face and over-heated Jen 0. Treadmill 1. Until we meet again...

My Fundraising Page

My Fundraising Page

Run Jen Run

As some of you may have heard, last week I signed up for the San Diego Rock & Roll half marathon.

I know, I know. Most of you are thinking "hrm...I don't remember Jen being much of a runner". Well, you are correct. I am not. I am slow, I complain, I don't like the cold and my ankles and knees usually hurt after 3 or so strides. But I am running as part of Team in Training, a great org that helps raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

To read why I am doing this, check out my page: http://pages.teamintraining.org/nyc/rnr10/jlinet

Please donate and in return, I promise to blog about my training progress. If that doesn't sound too exciting, let me sum up last week.

• I joined TNT (ha, imagine if they used the "I" in the middle)...last Thursday
• I called my friend Christine to tell her I wanted to run in her honor and would she help me fundraise (she happily agreed...wait until I share my $goal with her) :)
• I received an email Friday with details re: my group run on Saturday morning
• I ran with the beginners. I was the last in the pack (did I mention I currently run about a 12 minute mile...I was lapped by pregnant woman when I did my 10k last June)
• Dave, a cancer survivor and now super runner and tri-athlete felt sorry for me and stayed with me while I completed the run
• Dave trained for his first triathlon while undergoing chemo a few years ago. What could I complain about at that point!
• After the run, I met my cousin Kara in Grand Central. I was sweaty and dressed like a thug (black sweats, skull cap, etc). I complained that I was a bit sore from the run.
• Apparently running put me in some fog-like trance and I proceeded to:
• knock on what I thought was my sister's apartment door, jiggle the handle, and then realize that I was on the wrong floor, wrong apartment (run Kara, this isn't D & Mark's apartment)
• attempt to sit down on a bench to try on shoes. I missed and fell straight to the floor.
• tell my physical therapist he was 2 seconds away from me um... passing gas in his face, if he did not unfold my body into a normal position

If you like what you just read, donate, donate, donate and I promise to continue to share.

Love,

Jen